The great thing about Sydney Mardi Gras is that there’s something for everyone. We all know about the parade, the dance parties and pop up bars, but there is also Queer Thinking, the Mardi Gras Film Festival, live performances and also numerous Visual Art Exhibitions around Sydney.

If you enjoy sitting back and watching a few captivating live performances, the performance arts line up for the 2012 season has some stand out productions.

What would Mardi Gras be without a performance by drag diva Trevor Ashley (above)? This year he brings to the stage a tribute to Shirley Bassey in Diamonds are for Trevor at the State Theatre in March.

Our reviewer for Britney Spears: The Cabaret in Melbourne expected the show to be simply a tiresome tribute, but it turned out to be a satirical look at the perils of fame and complexity of Britney Spears’ life – naturally all presented in song. here’s our review and don’t miss the show when it arrives at the Seymour Centre from 15 February.

Not to be outdone by Britney there is also a cabaret about another iconic gay-adored singer. In Vogue: Songs by Madonna at Slide stars Michael Griffiths is Madonna, simply playing piano on stage and singing some of Madge’s greatest hits.

Now every man on the planet has wanked and if they say they don’t then they are lying! Believe it or not there is a play at Sydney Theatre as part of the 2012 Festival called The Year of Magical Wanking (above). Masturbation addict Neil Watkins is a gay man with a Jesus complex who explores his addiction to porn in an unexpectedly profound show.

Mardi Gras wouldn’t be Mardi Gras without the annual performance of Hats Off! at the Seymour Centre. This event annually raises money towards the fight against HIV/AIDS and if you love musical theatre you should definitely attend.

For something slightly different Anything Goes Cabaret returns to Sydney at the Supper Club. A little dark and of course decadent production features drag king extraordinaire Antonio Mantonio. This is an all singing all tap-dancing cabaret featuring dead German Transvestites.

Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens at the Seymour Centre is inspired by the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt and Spoon River Anthology. This touching piece of theatre is dedicated to everyone who has lost someone to the HIV/AIDS virus.

Move over drag queens! Here come the butch drag kings, ready for a raucous night of entertainment at Newtown’s The Vanguard. A Deck of Kings features a few wild cards including Sexy Galexy, Jayvante Swing, Sneakers, Sovryn Buckles, Dick Tucker, Victor O’Tool, Miss Burlesque NSW Danica Lee and Shauna Jensen.

Did you like the hit TV show Brothers and Sisters? Well the creator and producer of the show, Jon Robin Baitz has written The Paris Letters and its coming to the stage at Darlinghurst Theatre. Set in 1960’s New York and modern day Paris this story deals with suppressed sexuality, trust, friendship and betrayal and is featuring musical theatre star Peter Cousens.

So there’s an eclectic mix of performances this year for Mardi Gras 2012 with a good selection of live performance, drama, comedy and cabaret. There’s bound to be at least one performance that should whet your appetite and help you get in the mood to celebrate everything that is good about our LGBT communities.

Find out more about Mardi Gras’ performing arts events here on its official website.